Question: Must we wait for God to show us what field or career to take? I took a course in high school dealing with graphic arts and lithography (printing), and I want to know if God was leading me in that direction back then, or was I going in that direction at my own will?

Answer: Excellent question and certainly one that more young people should be asking. You might have heard of the man who asked God to give him a job, then sat around waiting for God to drop the perfect career right into his lap. Whether this man is real or simply a proverbial-style example, I don’t know. But what we can know from this story is that God expects us to make a full-time job out of finding or preparing for a job/career.

God’s will vs. your will—which? This is a question you will ask yourself many times over the course of your life. The truth of the matter unfolds in a wonderful mixture discussed in the second chapter of James: faith and works! God doing His part and you doing yours. We’ll get more specific as we proceed.

There’s a results-oriented proverb that gives a strategy to use with all of life’s “career” questions (occupation, marriage, family). “In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct [make straight] thy paths” (Proverbs 3:6). Your relationship with God is the most important key to right decisions. How do you know if a door is really open? How can you tell if it’s closed? Stay close to God, and He will show you! Acknowledge Him as your number-one Guidance Counselor, and all major crossroads will become clearer.

An important responsibility you have in career/life preparation is to figure out how God put you together. What special gifts/talents/abilities did He endow you with? Notice this man’s approach: “At age 18 I found a book in the public library, titled Choosing a Vocation. It took the reader through a searching self-analysis, and a survey of vocations, occupations and professions, to place the candidate where he best fit. A thorough study of this self-analysis and survey indicated that I would probably be most successful in the profession of journalism and advertising.”

This 18-year-old certainly wasn’t an ordinary teenager. In fact, he went on to become one of the greatest men in history. You might have heard of him before: Herbert W. Armstrong. Though living to be 93 years old, he was always “in touch” with young people and how to help them succeed in life. In his book The Missing Dimension in Sex, he wrote, “The years between ages 16 and 25 are the vitally important years of adult preparation for life’s work. These are the crucial years of preparation. During these years, the mind is capable of acquiring faster than at any other stage of life the advanced knowledge needed before beginning one’s adult career—whether it be business, profession, occupation or marriage.”

So, use these preparation years to try various lines of work as much as possible. Consider interning somewhere to gain firsthand experience. Talk to those in your congregation who work in a field you are interested in. Like Mr. Armstrong, read a book that will help you analyze your personality. You might consider a book titled Which Color Is Your Parachute? Google the title, and you can actually preview the book online. Point is, don’t be afraid to try new things!

Most occupations are appropriate for Christians. An easy way to know which careers to avoid is to ask yourself, “Does this break the letter or spirit of God’s law?” A Navy Seal, a brain surgeon, a psychologist, a pro boxer are all occupations that would undermine God’s law in one form or another. If you’re unsure, ask your parents or your minister.

Also consider: The job itself isn’t nearly as important as how you work within that job. “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might …” (Ecclesiastes 9:10). This principle applies to all the jobs you will have in life. Yes—even the minimum-wage ones. Work diligently, consistently and patiently. Too many managers and bosses today complain of the new batch of employees being lazy, disrespectful and feeling entitled to large salaries and unlimited personal time off. Overnight status is not the principle God teaches. It takes time to grow in a career.

Ideally, you match the special skills/talents God has given you with a complementary occupation. Ideally, you will go to work whistling with the spontaneous thought, “I love my job.” A career choice that hones your personal skill set will give you years of rewarding and fulfilling returns.

God doesn’t limit you, so don’t limit God!

So, to your question on how to know if God is leading you in a specific career direction …

Go to God and ask Him to make your path as straight as possible.

Prayerfully examine yourself and study your God-given abilities.

Keep your options open and don’t be afraid to try new things.

Work diligently at whatever you set your hand to.

Aim for a career that is both personally fulfilling and a benefit to fellow man.